Healthcare Engineer (Technical Career Field Trainee)

Summary

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions.

VA offers a comprehensive Healthcare Engineer total rewards package - visit our Total Reward$ Brochure.

Help

Duties

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for one or two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

***Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements***

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-12 performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. You will ultimately acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

• At the GS-7 entry level, this is a 2-year long program, the incumbent performs general healthcare engineering assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support engineering operations, project management and compliance.
• At the GS-9 grade level, this is a 1-year long program, the incumbent functions in a developmental capacity with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments.
  
  

Job duties include using basic engineering principles to provide limited professional services for the institution; performing general healthcare engineering assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support engineering operations, project management and compliance; assessing healthcare facility programs and making recommendations to assure compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines and standards; applying engineering and code related knowledge to support the operational engineering requirements of the healthcare system; and preparing material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to the supervisor.



Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. May vary depending on placement.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000



Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Your degree must be conferred no later than 9/5/2025.

Basic Requirements:

• 
  
  United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education:
• Bachelors degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture (degree must be conferred by September 5, 2025). To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time. -OR-
• Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score. (
  
  Note: Supporting documentation must be provided at the time of application.) -OR-
• Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico. (
  
  Note: Supporting documentation must be provided at the time of application.)
  

Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date (March 18, 2022) of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all the qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, engineering, architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree as outlined above.

English Language Proficiency. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.

• 7403(f).
  
  

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, you must meet the following criteria.

Healthcare Engineer, (GS-07). Experience. None Beyond The Basic Requirements.

• Assignment. At the entry level, Healthcare Engineers serve in a career development position, performing under close supervision of a supervisor or qualified individual who reviews and ensures the employee meets competency requirements. At the entry level, they perform general healthcare engineering assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support engineering operations, project management and compliance. Developmental assignments include, but are not limited to, assessing healthcare facility programs and making recommendations to assure compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines and standards; applying engineering and code related knowledge to support the operational engineering requirements of the healthcare system; and preparing material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to the supervisor.
• 
  
  NOTE: A two-year formal training program is required.
  
  

Healthcare Engineer, (GS-09). Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:

• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR
• Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined above (degree must be conferred by September 5, 2025); OR
• Bachelor's degree as outlined above plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
• Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
• Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
• Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility.
• Assignment. At the developmental level 1, Healthcare Engineers receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. Employees complete technical assignments in the engineering field as assigned by senior Healthcare Engineers and may be required to rotate through, and participate in, the operations of other hospital services. At the GS-9 grade level, employees function in a developmental capacity with oversight by a supervisor for more complex assignments.
• 
  
  NOTE: A one-year formal training program is required.
  
  

Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have been accomplished after satisfying the basic education requirement as outlined above, required the use of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) directly applicable to the assignment and be associated within the scope of the healthcare engineering profession.

References: VA Handbook 5005/150 Part II Appendix G72 dated March 18, 2022



Physical Requirements: Work will involve office work (50%) and some physical exertion such as walking, bending, stooping, climbing in utility rooms crawlspaces, attics, boiler and chiller plant (50%). Such work will require an average amount of agility and dexterity.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application.



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Special Salary Rates ranges by location are listed below:

Amarillo, Texas- GS-7: $59,964 - $77,958.00, GS-9: $73,348 - $95,350.00

Biloxi, Mississippi- GS-7: 57,617-$74,906, GS-9: $70,477-$91,618

Houston Texas- GS-7: $68,286-$88,778, GS-9: $83,528-$108,584

Iowa City, IA- GS-7: $57,617-$74,906, GS-9: $70,477-$91,618

Jackson, MS- GS-7: $57,617- $74,906.00, GS-9: $70,477- $91,618.00

Los Angeles, CA- GS-7: $72,128-$93,771, GS-9: $88,226-$114,692

Louisville, KY- GS-7: 57,617- $74,906, GS-9: $70,477-$91,618

Madison WI- GS-7: $60,497-$78,651, GS-9: $74,001-$96,199

Marion, IL- GS-7: $57,617- $74,906.00, GS-9: $70,477-$91,618.00

New Orleans, LA- GS-7: $57,617-$74,906- GS-9: $70,477-$91,618

North Little Rock, AR- GS-7- 57,617- 74,906, GS9-70,477-$91,618

Omaha, NE- GS-7: $57,617 - $74,906.00, GS-9: $70,477 - $91,618.00

Saint Louis, MO- GS-7: $57,617 - $74,906.00, GS-9: $70,477 - $91,618.00

Salt Lake City, UT- GS-7: $64,019 - $83,229, GS-9: $78,308 - $101,798.00

San Diego, CA- GS-7: $72,128-$93,771, GS-9: $88,226-$114,692

Temple, TX- GS-7: $57,617 - $74,906.00, GS-9: $70,477 - $91,618.00

White River Junction (Windsor), VT- GS-7: $59,751-$77,680.00, GS-9: $73,087-$95,011.00

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Read more

• Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.